Governor Braun delivers on economic development strategy, increasing opportunity for Hoosiers while maximizing taxpayer dollars

Indiana Governor Mike Braun chaired the 2025 fourth quarter Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) board of directors meeting today, highlighting a successful year of delivering results for Hoosiers.

In 2025, with Gov. Braun’s new approach to economic development, companies made plans to create 10,604 new jobs in Indiana with average wages of $40.59 – up from $36.09/hour in 2024. That’s an increase of 12.5% or $9,360 of annual salary.

Additionally, the cost of those incentivized jobs decreased from $46,850 per job in 2024 to $15,485 per job, saving taxpayers money.

“Our strategic focus on increasing wages and jobs in Indiana is working,” said Gov. Braun. “By supporting Indiana companies and the Main Street economy, we’re helping businesses to grow, encouraging more high-wage career opportunities, and creating the next generation of entrepreneurs. All in all, these results will deliver a more robust economy.”

“This has been a strategic and inspiring year for economic development in Indiana,” said Secretary of Commerce David Adams. “Because of the Governor’s vision, Hoosiers can look forward to more high-paying jobs and feel confident in a government that is maximizing value and return on investment for all taxpayers.”

Additionally, Gov. Braun advanced key wins in 2025 focused on entrepreneurship and regionalism:

Entrepreneurship –

• Launched the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (IC 4-3-28) – a first-of-its-kind effort to help founders start, grow, and scale their businesses.
• Provided no-cost support to entrepreneurs and small businesses through the Indiana Small Business Development Center, helping launch 372 new businesses, create 1,285 new jobs and secure $68.5 million in small business funding.
• Invested $1 million through the Community Collaboration Fund to support community programming and events focused on entrepreneurship education and growth statewide.
• Supported 25 new Qualified Indiana Businesses and incentivized $43.4 million in proposed investments from 334 investors through the Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit.
• Helped 36 startups raise more than $500,000 through accelerator programs, including three gBeta cohorts focused on Main Street entrepreneurship.
• Hosted the 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in June, bringing the event back to the U.S. for the first time since the inaugural event in 2009. Gov. Braun hosted a state and local policy summit, discussing opportunities to grow the Main Street economy.
• Celebrated Hoosier founders during Small Business Week, Global Entrepreneurship Week and Small Business Saturday, highlighting the contributions of Indiana’s 569,500 small businesses that support more than 1.2 million jobs.

Regionalism –

• In accordance with EO 25-45, the state’s 15 READI regions were validated as Indiana’s official economic regions, creating a framework for future planning.
• $334.1 million committed to 219 READI 2.0 projects statewide that will improve the lives of Hoosiers by creating community spaces and programming, increasing housing and childcare, fostering education and entrepreneurship, and more.
• Moved forward funding for READI’s Lilly Endowment Fund matching dollars, approving 23 blight remediation and redevelopment projects across 12 regions and supporting arts and culture planning initiatives in all 15 regions to improve quality of place in Indiana.